Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has delivered a candid assessment of his team's disastrous IPL 2026 campaign, admitting the five-time champions have failed to give their loyal fans reasons to cheer. After SRH chased down a staggering 243 at Wankhede Stadium—marking MI's sixth loss of the season—Pandya didn't mince words about the team's struggles.
"Sometimes it hurts when the opposition comes and they start chanting their name," Pandya said, acknowledging the awkward silence that has replaced the usual roar of support at home games. "We have not given them much opportunity to back us—but they have been fantastic and loyal. We probably need to give them more to cheer and shout about."
The numbers paint a grim picture for the five-time champions. Sitting at ninth in the points table with just four points from multiple matches, MI's campaign is hanging by a thread. Despite posting a massive 243—powered by Ryan Rickelton's breathtaking unbeaten 123 off 55 balls—the bowling attack was taken apart, with every bowler conceding over 10 runs per over. Even the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah had an off day, returning figures of 0/54.
"I think this season we don't have much option. We really need to see what all differences we can make," Pandya admitted, refusing to single out his bowlers. "I won't put my bowlers under the bus. As an overall unit, we have not been able to do what Mumbai Indians stands for."
The skipper's frustration is understandable. For a franchise synonymous with dominance and late-season comebacks, watching fans chant for the opposition at their own fortress is a bitter pill to swallow. But Pandya struck a hopeful note, emphasizing the unwavering support from the franchise's leadership.
"We have passionate owners and support staff. Hopefully we will figure out something," he said, signaling that the team is determined to find a way out of this slump.
For MI fans, the message is clear: the team knows they've let you down, and they're hurting too. But if there's one thing this franchise has taught us over the years, it's that they're never truly out of the fight. The question is whether they can rediscover their winning formula before it's too late.